Several times a month we connect with our contributors showing where they have been, where they are now, and what’s up for the future.
Name: Kathleen McGookey
Title of Pieces Published in Sweet: “Loons at Dawn, Gun Lake” and “Sunrise, All Day Long“
Issue: 16
Find Her:
Facebook
This issue is Kathleen’s 4th time she has published in Sweet. You can find Kathleen in her office, looking at the sky, or walking her dog. She lives in rural Michigan, and her office looks out over cornfields.
What are some major accomplishments you have had since your Sweet publication?
I have a new chapbook, Cloud Reports (Celery City Chapbooks), that was published in March 2024, and I have a full-length collection, Paper Sky, forthcoming from Press 53 in October 2024.
Can you tell us about a current/ongoing project that you’re excited about?
Well, I am very excited about my new chapbook and book. The process of organizing poems into a chapbook and book is very different from writing, and always different each time I do it. I’m grateful I have a few indispensable friends who help me with this (Nin Andrews especially).
Who is your favorite author?
I can’t name just one! My favorites include Nin Andrews, Bonnie Jo Campbell, Ross Gay, Jack Ridl, Ann Patchett, Sylvia Plath, Kevin Wilson, Gary Young, and so many more….
What is your favorite poem/essay/book?
Two books of poems that always help me begin, whenever I feel stuck, or intimidated, or tongue-tied, are Annie Lighthart’s Iron String and Faith Shearin’s The Owl Question. (And see, I didn’t even mention them in the previous question!)
What inspires you to write?
Sometimes, I want to try to capture a moment, or a feeling, or an image, so it isn’t lost. Sometimes, I want to escape into writing a poem to get some relief from the onslaught of the news. I also read a lot for that same reason.
What are you reading right now?
I’ve just finished Ross Gay’s The Book of (More) Delights, and Stephen Marche’s On Writing and Failure. Both are inspiring, in different ways. Before that, I read Sloane Crosley’s Grief is for People.
What is your favorite sweet? We would love for you to share a recipe or link to place that serves it. Pictures are great, too!
My favorite sweet right now is chocolate chip cookies, with oatmeal and whole wheat flour, in an attempt to be healthy-ish.
We found a great recipe from Rachel Cooks that we think you might like!
Thank you, Kathleen, for taking the time to reconnect with us again! Congratulations on your book. We look forward to seeing more of your work in the future!
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